The Franklin D. Roosevelt 

Presidential Library and Museum

and the Boy Scouts of America 

Hudson Valley Council

-- with the support of 

Central Hudson Gas & Electric --

present an author talk and 

book signing with  David C. Scott,

author of 

MY FELLOW AMERICANS:

SCOUTING, DIVERSITY, 

AND THE U.S. PRESIDENCY

Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.

Henry A. Wallace Center at the

FDR Presidential Library and Home

 

HYDE PARK, NY -- The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum and the Boy Scouts of America Hudson Valley Council -- with the support of Central Hudson Gas & Electric -- are pleased to present an author talk and book signing with David C. Scott, author of MY FELLOW AMERICANS: SCOUTING, DIVERSITY, AND THE U.S. PRESIDENCY. The program will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 in the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home. Following the talk, Scott will be available to sign copies of his book. This event is free and open to the public.

 

Founded shortly after the dawn of the 20th century, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) championed the forging of a stronger national citizenry by molding the good character of idle Progressive Era youth. But it was not alone -- competition loomed from numerous other organizations formed with similar objectives in mind. To escape the pack, BSA officials sought a dramatic national publicity coup.

That objective came to fruition in February 1911 when well-heeled BSA managers met with President William Howard Taft in the Oval Office of the White House and garnered his critical personal endorsement and coveted sponsorship as the organization's first honorary president -- thus beginning BSA's century-long symbiotic relationship with the most powerful executive office in the land.

 

Franklin D. Roosevelt had a 24-year record of service in Scouting, according to the Boy Scouts of America. He was president of the Greater New York Council of the BSA, a Silver Buffalo Award recipient (the BSA's highest national honor for service to youth), an Order of the Arrow inductee, and Honorary President of the BSA while President of the United States. He also made an annual address to Scouts and engaged them in the homefront effort during World War II.

 

MY FELLOW AMERICANS reveals the many fascinating Scouting stories behind each U.S. president's association with the BSA -- from Theodore Roosevelt through Barack H. Obama -- exploring how BSA successfully shaped and developed over 115 million duty-driven and service-oriented young people during the past century through its unique partnership with nineteen consecutive presidents of the United States.

 

David C. Scott has been involved with Scouting for over 35 years. He is a recipient of the Eagle Scout award, including 5 Eagle palms. A Vigil Honor member in the Order of the Arrow, a Wood Badge recipient, and a 2012 Silver Beaver recipient, he graduated Vanderbilt University in 1988 with a B.A. in Psychology and continued onward to SMU, where he earned a master's degree in Applied Economics in 1993. He is the founder of Dallas-based WindRush Publishers, which seek to produce timeless, engaging, and enriching books of varying subjects and themes with outstanding authors to create distinctive titles for all ages and interests.

In addition to his quarterly column for the International Scouting Collector's Association Journal on various topics on Scouting's history, Dave is the author of four bestselling and highly endorsed award winning books. He is a member of the Boy Scouts of America's National Speakers Bank as well as numerous lineal and national patriotic societies including the Sons of the American Revolution, the Sons of the Republic of Texas, the Military Society of the War of 1812, the Jamestowne Society, and the Presidential Families of America, being a first cousin (5 generations removed) to President James K. Polk and a second cousin (8 generations removed) to President George Washington. He has been married to his wife, Aimee, for over 21 years, and they have four children.

 

Copies of Scott's book will be available for sale after the talk. Please contact Cliff Laube at (845) 486-7745 or email [email protected] with questions about the event.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

Designed by Franklin Roosevelt and dedicated on June 30, 1941, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is the nation's first presidential library and the only one used by a sitting president. Every president since FDR has followed his example and established a presidential library administered by the National Archives and Records Administration to preserve and make accessible to the American people the records of their presidencies. The Roosevelt Library's mission is to foster a deeper understanding of the lives and times of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and their continuing impact on contemporary life. This work is carried out through the Library's archives and research room, museum collections and exhibitions, innovative educational programs, and engaging public programming. For more information about the Library or its programs call (800) 337-8474 or visit www.fdrlibrary.org.